'Now You See It'

Call it sheer madness.

At designers’ shows like Valentino, the haute couture collection was an explosion of see-through black lace, ruffles and beading. Roberto Cavalli featured a brooding cast of male models sporting gauzy tanks in pastel colors with perforated leather pants.

Celebrities have caught on, with Transformer’s Megan Fox slipping into a sheer black dress for an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in June. Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester bared all in a slinky jumpsuit at a July 28 Katie Perry concert in New York. Harry Potter’s rising fashion star, Emma Watson (the new face of Burberry), chose to show some skin in a geometric party dress while on another appearance last month.

Without being offensive or vulgar, sheer garments act as a filter – hiding what you don’t want others to see and revealing what you do. It’s the easiest way to elevate your look, turning the volume up from flirty to sexy.

Plus, sheer is a look that not only works on all body types, but in the home too (as long as the fit and styling are executed well).

Fresh and light, voile curtains are synonymous with summer décor. The curtains fall gracefully, whisking the floor with the slightest wind. They provide coverage, but still allow light to pour into a room. Affordable ($12.99), machine washable and requires little to no styling. In my home, black embroidered voile hanging from valences draw contrast to my sheer curtains.

A glass top coffee table adds instant glamour. The same way mirrors open a small space, a glass table pretends to take up even less room! This Huron coffee table ($515) is a statement piece with the innovative design of its black base and glass top.

This sheer leopard print ($88) by Patterson J. Kincaid recently made it to my own wardrobe for its slinky cut and seemingly casual style. With its longer hem and fullness in the back, the Henley appears to float as you walk. Works best with longer pants or leggings at the bottom, but if long enough, can also be combined with mini-skirts and cut-offs.

Call it whatever you want. Sheer is what’s hot this summer.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of justjared.buzznet.com; allcoffeetables.com; bloomingdales.com